Oscar-nominated director, Rob Marshall, recently spoke about his highly-anticipated live-action Disney film, The Little Mermaid, which stars Halle Bailey as Ariel. During an interview, Marshall expressed his excitement about finishing the film after four and a half years of hard work. He also emphasized that this is the most challenging project he has ever tackled, saying, “No question.”
To bring the underwater world of The Little Mermaid to life, Marshall utilized complex, cutting-edge techniques and had to choreograph every moment of the film in advance to ensure a seamless flow. He explained the various apparatuses they used during production, including wires, tuning forks, and teeter-totters, and emphasized the importance of having adequate rehearsal time, especially in a musical.
As a seasoned director, Marshall has worked on a number of successful Disney projects, including Mary Poppins Returns, Into the Woods, and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, as well as the musicals Nine and Chicago. For “Under the Sea,” the director revealed that there is only one live-action character and detailed the extensive pre-production process he underwent with producer John DeLuca to create the musical sequences.
Fans of The Little Mermaid will have to wait until May 26th for the film’s theatrical release. The trailer is rumored to debut during the Super Bowl this weekend, so keep an eye out!
